Loom harness lifting apparatus



Nov. 15, 1960 w. R. WALLING I ,2,960,115

LOOM HARNESS LIFTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 INVENTOR.

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Nov. 15, 1960 w. R. WALLING LOOM HARNESS LIFTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 5, 1957 INVENTOR. MAL/AM B, "[444 //V6,

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rates William R. Walling, 11445 Moorpark St, North Hollywood, Calif.

Filed Dec. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 700,828

9 Claims. (Cl. 139-30) The present invention relates generally to hand looms,

and particularly describes lifting apparatus for harnesses in such looms.

atent O f Hand looms are well known and consist of a frame having, generally at the rear thereof, a warp beam for holding the warp threads, a cloth beam near the front of the frame upon which the finished fabric is wound as weaved, a central harness housing providing vertically slidable support for a number of harnesses, and a heater assembly for forcing laterally extending weft threads into adjacent relation during the weaving process. Each harness of such an apparatus includes a large number of vertically oriented heddles, each heddle providing an opening through which a selected warp thread is fed. The harnesses normally rest in their lower position and during the weaving process one or more of the harnesses are raised so that the predetermined number of warp threads carried by the raised harness or harnesses are elevated above the remaining warp threads to form an angular shed between the raised warp threads and the warp threads at rest. A thread-containing bobbin or shuttle is then passed through the shed. Thus the weaving process involves a succession of acts by the operator to raise one or more harnesses in order that the proper warp threads are raised to produce the finished pattern desired. The mechanisms for thus raising selected harnesses during the weaving process are somewhat cumbersome in use and particularly at the outset of a stroke to raise such harnesses, require of the operator a substantial amount of force. The raising of the harnesses is normally accomplished by treadle means actuated by the feet of the operator, and the force necessary for the initial movement of the harness is frequently so excessive in the case of conventional mechanisms, as to unduly fatigue the operator. Furthermore, the size of the shed must be easily adustable, since different patterns and different sizes of threads may require different sheds.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided beneath the harness lift actuators which are connected to the frame of the loom for pivotal rotation about horizontal axes. Each actuator includes an elongated arm which, according to the preferred construction of the present invention, is made to be adjustable in length from the pivotal axis. The outermost end of the arm contacts the lower surface of the harness, and the outer end of the arm may be provided with a rol er for such contact in order to facilitate movement of the actuator relative to the harness during lifting. The outer surface of the actuator is provided with a generally spirally configured shape, with the inner end of the spiral being relatively close to the pivotal axis. A flexible tension member such as a cable or the like is fixed at its one end to the innermost extent of the spiral surface and lies along the extent of the spiral surface, the free end of the cable being connected to means for exerting tensile pull upon the cable by a foot-operated member such as a treadle as conventionally used in hand looms. Because of the mechanical advantage afforded by the spiral configuration of the actuator, the initial downward foot movement by the operator to raise a harness is facilitated, particularly in putting the harness in motion against the static friction of the vertically oriented slideways carried by the frame in which the harness is slidably movable.

In the case of a relatively heavy harness, such as in the case of a wide machine, carrying a large number of heddles, each harness may be lifted upwardly by a pair of lifting devices of the kind made in accordance with the present invention, one of such lifting devices being disposed on one side of the longitudinal center line of the frame, and the other being located approximately symmetrical thereto. In this form of the invention, the cable is, by preference, made to extend from one of the actuators of a pair to the other actuator, with the central portion of the cable. passing downwardly over suitable members such as sheaves, to a looped connection with the appropriatetreadle.

In both forms of the invention, whether one actuator or two be used for each harness, the total rise in height of a harness from its lowermost rest position to its uppermost position may be readily adjusted within a substantial range. This is advantageous in affording flexibility to the apparatus in being able to change the angle between the raised warp threads and the warp threads at rest in order to provide whatever shed may be desired by the operator for a particular pattern being made.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to disclose a novel apparatus for selectively lifting a loom harness. Additional objects of the invention are to provide, in a hand loom, lifting apparatus including a lifting arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis longitudinal of the frame; to provide such a lifting arm which is adjustable in length; to provide an actuator including such arm and having a generally spirally contoured surface; to provided a lifting apparatus, particularly for looms with relatively wide harnesses, having a pair of actuators, each such actuator including a lifting arm of adjustable length and an actuator body having a generally spirally configured surface; to disclose novel harness-lifting apparatus for hand looms which may be readily assembled on an existing loom; and for other and additional objects and purposes as will be understood from a study of the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand loom with certain portions omitted for clarity of illustration, and embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1, tion, and with the harnesses shown in lowered or rest position.

Fig. 3 is a view taken in the same direction as Fig. 2, with further parts omitted for clarity, and showing one of the harnesses in raised position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lift actuator of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing a structure includin airs of laterallv spaced actuators for lifting each of the harnesses in a loom.

Fig. 9 is a view of the device of Fig. 8 with the forward one of the harnesses in raised position and there held by its laterally spaced pair of spaced actuators.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line X--X of Fig. 8.

Patented Nov. 15, 1960 with certain parts omitted for clarity of illustra- Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 8.

In Fig. 1 there is indicated generally at a jack loom including a transversely. extending: breast beamv 22; atthe 1 forwardend of the loom, a transversely extending warp.

beam24- at the rear of the loom, abeater assembly indie cated, gen erally at 26 and including, transverse members 28-, a vertically oriented harness frame. assembly, indicated generally at, 30 for slidably holdingaplurality of harnesses, and pedally operable, means such as a pluralityof foot-operated treadles indicatedgenerally at 32 for selectively raising one or more of the harnesses. in. the harness frame 30. The general construction of the loom. including the component parts thereof just mentioned, is conventional. tional component parts may be used in an operative loom; particularly, carriedbyeach of the harnesses are omitted from the present showingfor purposes of clarity, since their details oficonstruction are well known and form. nopart of the,

present invention.

The presently illustrated device includes a total of four harnesses slidably housed in the harness. housing 30.

The upper end of the harness ,frame includes transverse,

front and rear members 36. and 38 extending between and connecting the vertical side members 40 and 42. Spaced downwardly from the top of theharness frame 30 is a front cross bar indicated generally at 44 and connect anda rear crossbar ing theside members 40 and 42 46 similarlyextends between and side members 40 and 42.

The forward one of the harnesses slidably housed in the harness frame 30 is indicated generally at 50. and includes horizontally disposed laterally extending top and bottom members 52 and 54 respectively joined by vertically disposed side members 56- and 58. The side members 56 and 58 are slidably received in channels or guideways 59 formed on the inner surfaces of the side members40 and 42 of the harness housing30.

Immediately beneath theharnesses is a lift-actuator housing indicated generally at stance embodying a hollow. rectangular frame having upper members 62 and 63 (see Fig. 4), extending between and connected to the frame members v44 and 46, side walls 64 and 66 extending downwardly from the ends of the upper members 62 and a bottom 68 extending horizontally between the side walls 64 and 66 The topmernbers 62-and 63 as well as the upper portions of the'side walls connects the ,7 vertical 64 and 66 may be rigidly fixed to the members .44 and-46 by suitable fastening means 70.

Means are provided for pivotally mounting lift actuators in the housing 60, one such lift actuator being immediately beneath each of the four harnesses-slidably mounted in theharness housing 30. As best seen in Fig. 4, the front portionof the top member 62 is providedwith a-.pair of spaced slots 72 and 73 and a shaft 74 extends through the 62and the members 44 and 46, thus spanmng .the slots 72 and 73. A lift actuator indicatedgenorally at 76 (see Fig. 6), includes a straight leg 78, and,

preferably formed integrally therewith, a generally rounded portion 80 having a groove 82 formed in its periphery. A flexible tension member or cable 84-lies in the groove 82 and is fastened to the-actuator 76 at one end ofthe cable by a suitable fastening means 86. A transverse bore 88 is formed in the actuator-76, and the groove-82 is disposed in approximate spiral relationship to the bore 88 as a center, the point of of cable 84.being relatively close to the bore axis 88. A lifting arm indicated tudinally adjustably on the outerportion of leg 78. Arm 90;iI1Cll1d6S' a pair ofspacedjstrap members .92 and a bolt 94, extends through openings formed "in thestraps 92 and also through-a transverse slot-96 formed in a recessed portion 98-of the leg 78: The outer end of the arm 90 includes a contact member such as a roller-.100 rotata- It will be understood that other and addi-.

therplurality of vertically oriented heddles.

60 and in the present in attachment 86 generally at 90 is positioned longibly mounted on a pin 102 extending between and carried by the two straps 92. It will be seen that movement of the strap members 92 inwardly or outwardly of the recessed portion 98 results in a selective adjustment of the distance between the roller and the axis of the bore 88. A tightening nut 95 is provided on bolt 94 to retain the parts in selected longitudinal relationship.

The lift actuator 76 is mounted on the lift actuator housing 60 such that the bore 88 of the lift actuator is rotatably journaled onthe shaft 74, with the lift actuator partially received'in the slot 72; formed in the top member 62 of the housing. Similarly, a second lift actuator indicated generally at 104 is-rotatably journaled on the shaft 74 and is partially received in the slot 73. A second pair of lift actuators indicated generally at 106 and 108 are similar to the lift actuator 76 heretofore described and are rotatably journaled by bores formed therein upon the shaft 110 extending through the side members .44 and 46land,the,top member. 63. of the lift actuator housing 60, the lift actuators 106' and 108 being partially receivedin the slots. 112.and 114 respectively formed in the top member63; The legs, arms and rollers of all of .the four actuators 76, between the top. members 62 and 63 of thehousing 60.

Guidepulleys orsheaves. are rotatably mounted at the lower portion ofthehousing 60, each such pulley being received in. aslot formed in the. bottom member 68 of the housing. Each of the pulleys is disposed in the vertical plane ,of pulley 120.1ies in the vertical plane of the lift actuator 76, andis received in slot 122 formed in the member 68, and isrotatably journaled in the slot on a pin 124 (see Fig. 5). Additional pulleys 126, 128 and 130 are similarly journaled on pivot pins carried by the member 68 and are received in slots formed in member 68. The free end of cable 84. passes. over pulley and is fastened by a suitable fastening member 132 to a treadle 134, one of the group of treadles 32 heretofore referred to. Similarly, the freeends ofthe cables connected to the remaining lift actuators pass over their respectively aligned pulleys and are fastened to. successive ones of the treadle bars 32.

Operation of the, present invention will be best understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 and a comparison of the ,parts as shown in thosetwo figures. In Fig. 2 all harnessesarein. their lowermost or rest position. In Fig. v3. the front harness 50.is shown in raised position, havingbeenmovedto that position by a depression of the-treadle.-134-by the operator, such downward movement of.the 'treadle being communicated through the flexible cable 84 to the actuator 76, thus rotating the actuatoncounterclockwise..about its. pivotal mounting 74. During rotation ofthe lift actuator about the pivot 74,

the roller. 100..at.the.outer end of arm 90 carried by the. actuator moves upwardlyand laterally to the left as seen in..Fig, ,3;and thereby moves the harness 50 upwardly. Desirablytheremay be included on the lower surface of the. bottom member. 54 .of the :harness a metallic strip 140,.by.whichtoprovide a smooth rolling path. and to eliminate wear, on the lower edge of thewooden member 54.. Theactuator portion 80 may be provided at its outermosteud- (see;.Fig. 6), with a resilient bumper member 142. which is adapted to strike against a cross bar 144 extending between and supported by the members 44 and. 46..to -limitthe counter-clockwise rotational movement-.of. the lift.actuator:76 about its pivotal axis 74. A symmetrically disposedcross bar 146 serves similarly to limit vtheclockwise rotation of lift actuators 106 and 108 so that theactuator arms cannot be rotated to or beyond the, vertical. Thus, in'Fig. 3, it will be seen that the weight of theiharness 50 causes the apparatus to return to itsrest position of Fig. 2 as soon as foot pressure upon thetreadle 134is released.

Accordingly, it will be seen that the apparatus hereinabove described and illustrated affords easy lifting of a harness framein aloom, and particularly provides'a 104, 106-and 108 extend into the space one of theliftactuators just described. Thus.

relatively large lever arm through which the force of the tension cable 84 acts in initiating the lifting movement. Moreover, the maximum height to which a harness is lifted by the present apparatus is readily changed by selectively adjusting the position of arm 90 longitudinally of leg 78.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 11 there is shown a modified form of the present invention wherein each harness is provided with a pair of laterally spaced lift actuators, rather than the single centrally disposed lift actuator heretofore shown and described in connection with Figs. 1-5 inclusive. Thus in Fig. 8 there is fragmentarily shown the lower portion of a loom similar in major respects to the loom heretofore discussed and including a harness housing having side members 226 and 228 each provided with a number of inwardly facing channels 259 for slidably retaining harnesses for vertical movement. The lower portion of the forward one of such harnesses is indicated generally at 250 and includes a transverse bottom member 254 and laterally spaced vertical side members 256 and 258. It will be understood that three additional harnesses are disposed rearwardly of harness 250 in the manner heretofore shown and described, the harness immediately rearwardly of harness 250 being indicated generally at 251 (see Fig. 9). Immediately beneath the harnesses there is a lift actuator housing indicated generally at 260 and including a number of trans verse members fixed at each end to the vertical upright members 226 and 228, the lift actuator housing members including an upper front member 262, a lower front member 264, a rear top member 266 (see Fig. 11) and a lower rear member 268. Immediately beneath harness 250 are a lift actuator indicated generally at 276 on the left side of the drawing as seen in Fig. 8, and on the right side a second lift actuator indicated generally at 376.

Means are provided for simultaneously raising the actuators 276 and 376 to their raised positions as illustrated in Fig. 9. Actuator 276 is pivotally connected to the actuator housing 260 for rotation in a vertical plane about the pivotal axis of shaft 274 carried by the members 262 and 266. Actuator 376 is similarly pivotally supported for rotation about the axis of support shaft 374 extending between and carried by the members 262 and 266. Beneath the lift actuators there is provided a bank of pairs of pulleys or sheaves rotatably carried by the lift actuator housing 260. Each pair of pulleys is disposed in a vertical plane containing a pair of lift actuators and their associated harness. Thus (see Fig. 10) pulleys 320 and 321 are aligned with lift actuators 276 and 376; pulleys 326 and 327 are aligned with the next rearward pair of actuators 304 and 404. Pulleys 328 and 329 are aligned with the next rearward pair of actuators 306 and 406; and pulleys 330 and 331 are aligned with the rearmost pair of actuators 308 and 408. A flexible tension member such as cable 284 is connected to lift actuator 276 at point 286, near the pivotal axis 274. The cable 284 then extends around the outer arcuate configuration of actuator 276, being received in the open groove 282 of the actuator. The cable then proceeds around the pulley 3Z0, passes through eyelet 332 of treadle 334 and thence continues upwardly around pulley 321 and in groove 382 around the outer arcuate periphery of lift actuator 376, to be fixedly attached to the latter at point 386 adjacent the shaft axis 374.

It will be understood that the remaining pairs of laterally spaced lift actuators disposed rearwardly of actuators 276 and 376 are similarly interconnected by flexible cables, there being one such cable connected at each of its ends to the actuators of a given pair, the cables being fed over the various pulleys and connected through an eyelet or similar slippable connection to one of the treadles in the same manner as cable 284 just described.

A brace member indicated generally at 502 may be disposed between the members 262 and 266 and fastened to the latter and serves as a travel-limiting means against which resilient elements such as 504 and S06 attached to the outer ends of the lift actuators 276 and 376 respectively may abut when the lift actuators are in raised position as seen Fig. 9. The upper face of brace 502 may be provided with resilient bumpers 508 and 510 at its ends to serve as resilient stop means to support the lift actuators in their down or rest position as is particularly shown in Fig. 9 in connection with lift actuators 304 and 404.

Comparison of Figs. 8 and 9 will readily indicate the operation of this form of the invention in elevating a harness from its rest position as seen in Fig. 8 to its uppermost position as seen in Fig. 9. Actuator 276 is caused, by downward movement of treadle 334, to be moved counterclockwise about its pivotal axis 274, while actuator 376 is simultaneously caused to be rotated clockwise about its axis 374. During such rotation, the rollers at the outer ends of the arms of the respective actuators move upwardly and sidewardly relative to the harness 250, and desirably there may be provided on the lower face of transverse member 254 of the harness a pair of runner strips 520 and 522 to insure a smooth and wearresistant path for the movement of the rollers along the lower face of the harness 250. Desirably such strips are made of metal and are fastened in position as shown in Fig. 9 to the wooden transverse member 254 by suitable means not shown.

Accordingly, it will be seen that, in both forms of the present invention, there are provided means for easily and simply raising a selected harness of a loom upwardly in order to provide the proper shed between the warp threads of the cloth being woven. In the form of the invention latterly shown and described employing pairs of actuators for the lifting of the harnesses, it will be seen that the tension exerted by the flexible tension means or cable is effectively equalized as between any pair of actuators being raised by a downward movement of a treadle since the connection between the cable and the treadle is such as to allow movement of the cable through the eyelet means provided. Furthermore, in all forms of the invention, the actuators are provided with extensible arms for lifting the harnesses, and by changing the effective length of the arms as heretofore described, any desired height of harness lift within the range of the equipment may be quickly attained.

It will be seen that the shape of the grooved arcuate periphery of the actuators need not be precise geometric spirals, but may be varied therefrom to provide a movement as desired by the operator, so long as the maximum radius is relatively large in order to facilitate initial upward lift of the harness against its inertia and static friction without excessive effort by the operator.

Modifications and changes from the specific forms of the invention hereinabove shown and described as illustrative may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such modifications and changes are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hand loom having a frame and a plurality of harnesses vertically movable relative to the frame, in combination: a harness comprising a hollow generally rectangular form having laterally spaced parallel side members joined by vertically spaced parallel top and bottom members; vertically oriented spaced parallel channel means carried by the frame for slidably receiving the harness side members; means mounting a lifting arm on the frame beneath the harness for pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis, the outer end of the arm movably abutting the lower surface of said harness bottom member, said means having an actuating element fixed to the arm including a portion having a generally spirally contoured surface relative to said axis and extending downwardly and laterally therefrom; an elongated flexible tension member adapted to extend along the spiral surface and fixedat-one end to the-inner portion thereof; and means for-exerting tension on -the tension member perpendl'cularlyto said axis;

2. The invention as stated in claimi wherein said tension exerting means includes a foot-operated' treadle.

3.- Theinvent-ion as stated inclaim-1 wherein said actuating element and lifting arm disposed laterally of the harness.

4. The invention as stated in claim 1 including a sec nd lifting arnr-and actuatingelement fixed thereto; the arms'and-actuating elernents being laterally spaced wherein the other end of the tension member is fixed to the innerportionof-thesecondnamed actuating element.

5. Lifting apparatus-for a vertically movable harness in a hand -loorn comprising: a member rotatably mounted on the loomforpivotal movement in-a vertical plane abouta horizontal axis beneath the harness including a projecting lift portion'movably abuttable upwardly along the'fiat lower portion-of a harness and a section constituting a generally spirally configured surface about said axis in said plane; flexible cable means fixed at one end to the inner extent of the spiral surface and adapted to lie therealong; and pedally operable means for exerting tension on the cable means.

6. The invention as stated in claim 5 wherein said axis is-spaced laterally from the center of the loom and including a second rotatably mounted member similar to the first and rotatable about a second axis laterally symmetrical to the first named axis, the otherend of the cable means being fixed to the inner extent of the spiral surface of the second rotatable member.

7. The invention as stated in claim 5 wherein said axis is substantially centrally disposed laterally of the harness.

'8. Ina loom having a frame and a vertically movable harness selectively raisable by treadle means: spaced are substantially cent-rally -sile member having one end parallel-channelscarried-by-the frame; a generally'rectangular harness-havingtop and bottom members-and' laterally spaced parallel side members slidable in said channels;- a lift actuator mounted for pivotal movement relative to the frame about a horizontalaxis, the liftaCtLl-i ator having an arcuate portion and an outwardly projecting lifting arm-,- theouter end of said arm-movably abutting the bottom nected to'the lift-actuator and leading around the arcuate portion; and a selectively depressabletreadle beneath the lift actuator, the free end=ofthe-cable being connected to the treadle.

9. In a hand loom having a frame and a plurality of harnesses slidably carried by the frame for vertical movement relative thereto, in combination: a generallyrectangular vertically oriented harness having a transversely extending horizontally disposed bottom member; means supporting the harness for vertical movement; an actuator beneath the bottom member and mounted for pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis relative to said means and including an arm movably contractable upwardly against said bottom member and a configured grooved periphery, points alongthe periphery lying-tatincreasi-ng-radii from the axis; and a 'flexible ten fixed to said actuator at a point relatively close to said axis and lying in the peripheral groove, the free. end extending outwardly of the groove and 'virtually coplanar therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 56,077 McGregor July 3, 1866 2,576,428 Towle et al Nov. 27, 1951 2,696,838 Purrington Dec. 14, 1954 harness member; a flexible cable conportion having an arcuately- 

